Florida/Disney World Vacation!

**Be prepared for my longest post ever and picture overload...**

Monday: Travel day - we were supposed to get in early this night but Delta had other plans for us...we ended up being stuck in the Georgia airport for 6 hours and didn't get in to Orlando until after 11:00pm. :( The girls were troopers though and did great! Thankful for an open Starbucks to help us through the long wait. ;)
They were so excited to be on a plane again and took the safety instructions VERY seriously.  Lots of snacks were eaten, drinks to be had, movies to watch, games to play and a quick naptime too. 

Tuesday: The girls and I went to Duncan Donuts for breakfast and then my parents drove up to see us mid-morning and for lunch!  The girls were EXSTATIC to see their Papa and Gramma!!!  (I think the feeling was mutual for Papa & Gramma too!)  ;)  We swam in the afternoon and then met up with our great friends, Jason, Lisa, & Jack and "Gma Audrey" too!  Of COURSE we had to go to Don Pablo's for dinner since Rich and I are going through withdrawels not having them in CT.  The Johnson 3 were happy to oblige our desire!  Felt just like old times! :)

Wednessday: DISNEY WORLD!!!  This was the girls first time - (well, Audrey will say she has been before since the last time I went I was pregnant with her! HA!)  :)  They had the BEST time and really loved everything.  Lauren is still cautious around the characters, but honestly we didn't see too many up close - just during the parades which was far enough away for her.  ;)  Audrey & Jack were so cute together...holding hands, Jack guiding her along and being able to ride rides together!  :)

Amazing to see the Magic Kingdom through the eyes of your children.  Audrey was so excited to be able to wear my Mickey ears earrings and necklace.  Such a magical place!!

Cheesy pictures and fun rides together!!

Thursday:  We spent most of the day in pool at our hotel which was perfect!  The girl got reacquainted with swimming and did awesome!  We can't wait to open our pool here at home this summer! 

That night we met up with the Johnson's and Gma Audrey for some fun times at Downtown Disney.  We ate dinner at the exciting (and somewhat terrifying for Miss L) T-Rex restaurant.  It's just like the Rainforrest Cafe except with dinosaurs.  Audrey even got to make her very first Build-A-Dinosaur (like Build-A-Bear) at the giftshop.  She was so exciting picking out everything for her new Dino "Valentine".  :) 

We walked all over and stopped and listened to a few of the bands that were playing.  Lauren was totally in her element!  We have to get that girl into some sort of dance lessons!  :)  Jack, Audrey & Lauren had a blast and they even knew a couple of the songs which was fun to watch! 

I grabbed these random pictures off of Lisa's blog...  Love the picture of Lauren and I when she fell asleep on my shoulders.  It had been a LONG day for her and she was a trooper!!  Also the one of the two Audrey's!  Is that cute or what!!?!?!!  :)

Friday: Sea World!! Our hotel was just a few blocks from Sea World - fun to be so close! It was another beautiful day and we got to meet up with the Johnson's and "Gma" Audrey again too! The Shamu show was great - last time we were here it was not up and running. The girls loved seeing the Dolphins up close and personal but couldn't quite reach them. ;)
This day also marked our time done with our friends.  :(  We all went out to UNO Pizzeria and then bid our "til next times"!  We had a fabulous time with them and can't wait for more times together!  You can see our group shot in the above picture!

 Saturday:  Made the drive over to where my parents winter.  They just happened to have a kids carnival type thing at their church that afternoon so the girls took full advantage of that.  This is also the first time Lauren was not freaked out by face painting...now if we can get her over her fear of characters.  ;)  They loved all the fun prizes they got too!

That afternoon we went to the beach for a bit.  It was cloudy when we got there but then the skies opened up and there was beautiful sunshine!!  Fun in the sand and at the park there!!  Of course when we got back to their place we had to go on a golf cart ride...

 

Check out our first born!!  Man, how the years have passed!  :(  :)

Sunday: Church and an early Easter for the girls care of Grandma, er, the Easter Bunny.  ;)  I could hardly capture the excitement they were moving SO fast!  :)

That afternoon brought more golf cart rides, feeding the fish and watching the crazy turtles in the pond.  That bench the girls and I are sitting on is dedicated to my Grandma, she always walked around the area there and loved to sit by the pond.  Wish my girls could have met her...  In the evening we headed back to Orlando to get ready for our morning flight back home.  We were sad to say goodbye to Papa & Gramma but we look forward to our next visit.

 Monday:  Travel back home day...last breakfast in sunny Florida!

All in all it was a fun trip and look forward to our next adventures!!